ACTION III Trial Study update and Closeout Meeting at AWCH
Dhaka, 12 July 2026 —Projahnmo Research Foundation (PRF) held a “Project progress review and closeout meeting of the ACTION III Trial” at Ashulia Women and Children Hospital (AWCH). The gathering marked the successful completion of the trial and fostered collaboration among partners, investigators, and stakeholders.
The meeting began with a welcome speech by Dr. Dabir Uddin Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of AWCH. Dr. Md. Jasim Uddin, Project Manager, PRF, presented an overview of the study and updates, highlighting the progress. The event was attended by Co-Investigators and coordinators from AWCH, as well as all doctors and nurses from the Obstetric and Gynecology and Neonatal departments. Participants exchanged insights on achievements, discussed challenges, and explored practical solutions to strengthen implementation.p
The session concluded with inspiring remarks and a vote of thanks from Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed, Executive Director and Scientist, at PRF, who acknowledged the invaluable contributions of team members, partners, and donors in advancing the trial’s mission.
This is a WHO-coordinated multi-country study that evaluates the benefits and potential risks of two antenatal corticosteroid regimens—dexamethasone phosphate (4×6 mg IM q12h) and betamethasone phosphate (4×2 mg IM q12h)—versus placebo in pregnant women at risk of late preterm birth (34+0 to 36+5 weeks gestation). The primary outcome is a composite of stillbirth, neonatal death within 72 hours, or need for respiratory support within the same timeframe. Secondary outcomes include additional neonatal and maternal health indicators, as well as health service utilization. In Bangladesh, we enrolled 2408 women in this trial and 433 at AWCH. Recruitment for the ACTION III trial in Bangladesh was stopped at 5:00 pm on 04 June 2026, after reaching the global enrolment target.
WHO guidelines currently recommend antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) for early preterm births; evidence for late preterm use remains inconclusive. The ACTION III Trial is designed to generate the much-needed data to inform future WHO guideline updates and improve outcomes for preterm babies worldwide.